I am not a suspect
I am a person of interest
I have not been accused, arraigned, arrested or charged
nor have I been mentioned in the vicinity of a crime.
I have a driver’s license, a valid passport, a credit card, social  security card,
a voter’s registration card, an atm card, a phone number, a medical card, an email address, a website and even a college degree.
I am not a suspect
I am a person of interest
to persons unknown who say I’m not the target
of any investigation.
My profile is kept.
Everything I’ve ever bought is recorded;
every deposit I’ve ever made, every website I’ve ever visited,
every trip I’ve ever taken, every book I’ve ever bought,
every woman I’ve ever made love with, every baby I’ve ever kissed
is all secured in my computer dossier
to keep the homeland safe.
It may be a little late to tell you
about what is now taking place,
but your reading, hearing or holding
these words has put you in the database.

--©hlr/2002--